Indian Railways 2000

Sir, - The article by Mr. M.N. Prasad on the Indian Railways 2000
(The Hindu, Dec. 12) is an authentic appraisal of the present
condition of our railway system. His suggestions coming from an
experienced technocrat and administrator who had the unique
privilege of occupying the top slot in the railway hierarchy and
guiding its destiny for a number of years deserves serious
consideration if the monolith transport organisation is to be
rescued from the moribund state in which it now is.

For the last two decades, successive Railway Ministers have been
treating the railways as their private fiefdom to implement their
personal political agenda and improve their electoral prospects
in their home State, which is continuing even now. This has led
to complaints from other States about the neglect of their State
by the Railways. The Railway's priority getting topsy-turvy with
pet projects of Ministers like unigauge, additional zones, etc.,
getting preference over long-pending approved developmental
projects has become common feature, and this aberration has to be
corrected. It is necessary to bring all railway projects
involving heavy financial outlay under the purview of the Public
Investment Board and bridle the powers of the Railway Ministers
to execute projects on purely parochial and personal
considerations.